They’re hard to spot and even harder to get rid of. But just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean they have to invade your home.
» RELATED: Cold weather won't deter bugs
Ants often move inside when they’re on the hunt for food, moisture or shelter. Ants can be a serious problem year-round, but in the winter they usually don’t venture beyond their nest. If you do spot them inside that might mean a colony exits inside your home.
The most common ant in winter is the pavement ant, according to the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune. These ants typically nest under heated concrete foundations, which can lead them to your home.
» RELATED: Could freezing winter weather lead to fewer bugs this summer?
According to Orkin, ants can also be located somewhere in an inner house wall or inside a door or window frame. But beyond the cold weather, there's another reason why ants may be invading your home this winter: food. Ants tend to enter our homes in search of crumbs on floors and counter tops, food in pet dishes and food debris that gets stuck in kitchen cracks and in appliances.
To prevent ants from getting inside your home, you'll want to keep surfaces and floors cleans and use bait as needed. Here are a few other methods according to Today:
- Clean up food spills before ants discover them
- Store ripe fruit in the fridge and all other food in airtight containers
- Clean out trash cans
- Keep pet bowls clean and wipe up any spilled food/water around them
- Inspect outdoor potted plants for any insect activity on a frequent basis
